We're reporting on the Trump-Zelensky clash as it happens: Here's what you helped us accomplish this week

Dear Kyiv Independent community members,

Thank you for your continued support.

We're working on reporting on the Oval Office meeting between Trump and Zelensky, which disintegrated into Trump and Vance berating Zelensky, before the Ukrainian delegation was reportedly ordered out.

You can read our recently published editorial on the meeting here. Here's an excerpt:

"For the past weeks, the Kyiv Independent's email inboxes have been been overflowing with words of support, embarrassment, disgust, and apologies from our American readers who support Ukraine and disagree with Trump’s actions.

The U.S. remains a democracy, whether its leadership cherishes it or not — and in a democracy, the people’s voices can and must be heard.

If you disagree with America’s current trajectory, with the idea that emboldening tyrants is the path to sustainable peace and prosperity, you have the power to make a difference: Call and email your representatives. Demand support for Ukraine. Organize and go to pro-Ukraine rallies. Write, post, speak, advocate. Donate to Ukrainian causes. Disagree. You are America — make your voice heard.

Americans should stand up and send their political leadership a clear message: We don’t support what you’re doing, so stop doing it in our name. We don’t want an alliance with Russia, and we don’t want a betrayal of Ukraine. And frankly, we are embarrassed.

Speak up now, before it’s too late.

America’s president may have chosen his side of history. The American people are still free to choose theirs."

And, to all our members — we're grateful you're with us. As the future looks increasingly grim, we find strength in the fact that you're by our side. We'd like to give a warm welcome to the 507 new members who joined this week. We're overwhelmed at the level of support you've shown, and we're honored that you've chosen to support the Kyiv Independent. We wouldn't be here without readers like you.

Here's what you helped us accomplish at the Kyiv Independent last week:

• Our War Crimes Investigations Unit premiered their latest documentary about Russia's destruction of the Kakhovka Dam. The film investigates the scale of the disaster, based on 50 unique testimonies, and shows how Russia ignored and obstructed civilian evacuations from the flooded territory. Pictured above, people enter Kyiv's Zhovten Cinema for the premiere of "When the Water Screams," on Thursday, Feb. 27.

• We reported from Donetsk Oblast, as the battle to stabilize the front line rests on a knife's edge. Francis Farrell's story takes an in depth look at the front line conditions as fighting is now only five kilometers from Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, including Russian assault tactics, the increasingly important role of drones, and how spring conditions might affect the battlefield.

• We interviewed military analyst Rob Lee on what awaits Ukraine in 2025, who said that "as long as Russia is advancing, the war will continue." 

• We interviewed U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, who said that "In many ways, Trump likes what Putin does. Putin does not allow freedom of the press. Putin kills his opponents. Putin does not allow dissent — and that's kind of a model that Trump likes."

• We also interviewed the U.S. author "completely certain" Trump is a Russian asset. Craig Unger, an American journalist who has written two books on Trump’s connections to Russia’s security services, said "Trump was hosting the Russian mafia for many years before he even ran for president." You can watch the video interview here.

• We published an explainer on the U.S.-Ukraine mineral deal. Dominic Culverwell's article breaks down exactly what we know about the deal, after Kyiv and Washington came to an agreement on Feb. 25 after weeks of tense negotiations. Read the full text of the mineral deal here.

• We're releasing our first-ever print magazine. Our magazine "The Power Within" was created to be record of Ukrainian resilience and life in wartime — and is now available for pre-order in our online store. You qualify for a 15% discount as a member: Just use the code WELOVEYOU at checkout.

• We asked our American readers what they think about President Trump's policy on Ukraine. In just one day, we received several hundred emails. Here's what they had to say.

• Our documentary about the mental health of military medics will be screened in six additional European cities in March. “Can You Hear Me? The Invisible Battles of Ukrainian Military Medics” will be shown in Brussels, London, Strasbourg, Paris, Amsterdam and The Hague. Register for free with the links listed here.

Thank you for standing by our side as we bring independent, locally sourced news about Ukraine to the world.